Soil and water remediation and enhancement process and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A simplified method is disclosed for handling growth and dispersion of microorganisms in solution and which is adaptable to many different end-use applications, including treatment of turf, decorative and ornamental vegetation, horticultural plants and agricultural crops. Provision of the initial microorganism materials in the form of aqueous suspensions which are incorporated in liquid form into a large volume of water in a vessel and subsequent growth of biomass in the vessel provides for simplicity and flexibility not previously obtained from the prior art devices and methods. The method provides biomasses containing microorganisms to enhance vegetation growth, provide disease- and/or pest resistance, detoxification, solids removal, or any combination thereof. Apparatus to carry out the method of the invention is also disclosed, includes efficient and simply liquid feed devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/190,632, filed on Feb. 2, 1994, entitled "Reactor for Microorganismsand Feed Device Therefor", and which will issue as U.S. Pat. No.5,447,866 on Sep. 5, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention herein relates to processes for improving the conditionsof soil and water and to improve their ability to support vegetation,including crops. More particularly, it relates to such methods which usemicroorganisms to enhance the soil and water properties.

2. Background of the invention

Improvement of soil and water conditions to enhance vegetation growth isa subject of significant interest and importance. Parks, golf courses,cemeteries, sod farms, athletic fields, and similar locations all needextensive decorative and functional vegetation, including grass,shrubbery and trees. The vegetation must be easy to maintain, providepleasing visual appearance and be hardy, to sustain itself throughoutextensive use, particularly for areas such as parks, athletic fields andgolf courses. Commercial horticulture, such as greenhouses andproduction of landscape and bedding plants, also requires soil and waterwhich are supportive of vigorous and healthy growth of the commercialplants. Similarly, agriculture also requires soil and water conditionswhich support optimum plant growth, whether of field crops, row crops ortree crops.

Many water supplies or water bodies are contaminated in one manner oranother. It is typical for well water to include contaminants which wereoriginally dissolved or entrained in ground water which subsequentlyflowed into the wells, carrying the contaminants with it. At the otherend of the scale, waste water collection ponds, which of course arehighly contaminated at the outset, must often be treated to reduce thecontamination so that the water can be reused for various purposes andso that high degrees of residual contamination do not accumulate in awaste water pond over a period of time.

Several previous patents have issued which have dealt to some extentwith these various issue. These patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,227,067;5,227,068; and 5,314,619, all in the name of L. Runyon, and assigned toEco Soil Systems, Inc. of San Diego, Calif.) deal with a variety ofaspects of soil remediation and enhancement and water treatment byapplying various microorganisms, enzymes and nutrients for themicroorganisms to soil and water. The systems described in those patentshave proved to be quite successful, and substantial benefits have beenobtained for such application areas as golf courses, parks and fieldcrops. However, these previous systems utilized solid reactants whichhad to be dissolved or dispersed prior to use, or were cumbersome andnot particularly suited for soil or water treatment over large areas orin a wide variety of different types of applications. In particular, thehandling of the solid reactants often posed problems with respect todifferent dissolution rates, concentrations and growth rates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein provides a convenient system which, while retainingall of the beneficial aspects of the previous systems, is substantiallysimplified with respect to handling growth and dispersion ofmicroorganisms in solution and is also adaptable to many differentend-use applications, including treatment of turf, ornamentalvegetation, horticultural and agricultural crops. Provision of theinitial microorganism materials in the form of aqueous suspensions whichare incorporated into a large volume of water in a vessel and subsequentgrowth of biomass in the vessel provides for simplicity and flexibilitynot previously obtained from the prior art devices and methods.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the present invention is a method forremediation and enhancement of soil or water which comprises: formingconcentrated aqueous suspensions of microorganisms and/or nutrientstherefor; injecting the aqueous suspensions into a substantially largervolume of water in a vessel; retaining the larger volume of water withthe suspensions dispersed therein in the vessel at a temperature and fora time sufficient for the microorganisms to feed on at least a portionof the nutrients, reproduce and multiply into a concentrated biomasscontaining a remainder of the nutrients and an increased number of themicroorganisms in the water; thereafter dispensing the biomass,completely or continuously, from the vessel and dispersing the biomassto soil or water; and maintaining the microorganisms, at the soil orwater, alive and active with the remainder of the nutrients for a periodof time sufficient to enhance predetermined desirable properties of thesoil or water or reduce predetermined undesirable properties of the soilor water. If the biomass is dispensed continuously, aqueous suspensionsof nutrients will be continuously added to the vessel to maintain thebiomass density.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is apparatus for remediationand enhancement of soil or water which comprises: at least one containerfor a concentrated aqueous suspension of microorganisms and/or nutrientstherefor; a vessel larger than the container, and a liquid conduittherebetween; an injector for moving the aqueous suspension through theconduit and injecting the aqueous suspension into a volume of watergreater than the volume of the aqueous suspension, and within thevessel; operating means for producing and maintaining conditions over aperiod of time within the vessel conducive to reproduction and growth ofthe microorganisms in the presence of the nutrients, such that themicroorganisms, during the period of time, multiply into an aqueousbiomass comprising the microorganisms dispersed in vessel water; anddispensing means for removing aqueous biomass from the vessel; such thatthe aqueous biomass can subsequently be dispersed into soil or water andthe microorganisms therein maintained alive and active for a period oftime sufficient to enhance predetermined desirable properties of thesoil or water or reduce predetermined undesirable properties of the soilor water.

Microorganisms useful herein will enhance plant growth, provide pestsuppression or eradication, soil or water detoxification, solidsdegradation or any combination thereof. Exemplary microorganisms includethermophiles, microorganisms which utilize hydrocarbons as growthsubstrates, nitrogen fixing bacteria, halophiles, oxygen-generatingbacteria, specific disease control agents, broad spectrum diseasecontrol agents, microorganisms for thatch or rubble degradation, andmicroorganisms which function as insecticides, fungicides, metabolitesand/or herbicides. The system also functions to encourage microbialgrowth to stimulate metabolite production, such as, of antibiotics thatperform as fungistats, bactericides and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the basic process of the presentinvention, illustrating liquid feeders, biomass growth reactors andcontrol systems for controlling the operation of the process.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of different systems fordispersing the biomasses grown in the present process, includingdispersion by spray and irrigation, dispersion remotely by vehicles, anddispersion remotely by connected systems.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate pictorially different end-use applicationsof the present process, including the treatment of turf and ornamentalplants (illustrated as a golf course in FIG. 5), use in horticulture(illustrated by treatment of greenhouse plants in FIG. 6), and use inagriculture (illustrated by treatment of row crops in FIG. 7).

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate schematically respectively, the treatment ofwell water by the process of this invention for purification of thewater and charging the water with nutrients and treatment of waste water(FIG. 9), illustrating the use of the process for reduction of solidsand toxins and purification for ultimate reuse of the cleaned upaffluent.

FIG. 10 illustrates a multi-chambered biomass growth reactor whichprovides for isolated growth different microbes.

FIG. 11 illustrates a biomass growth reactor in which indiscriminategrowth microorganisms, such as fungi, can be grown and then theresulting biomass is macerated to permit free flow of the microorganismsthrough the system.

FIG. 12, divided into sections A and B, illustrate two means of deliveryof the compositions herein: by airplane (12-A) and manually operateddistributor (12-B).

FIG. 13 illustrates schematically the use of the invention for thepurpose of ground water remediation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The process of this invention will be best understood by reference tothe drawings.

In FIG. 1, the basic process is shown. A critical aspect is initiallyproviding concentrated liquid solutions of microorganisms, enzymes andnutrients through feed devices 2. The use of the liquid microorganismfeed from the concentrated containers 2 substantially enhances thepresent process with respect to the prior art which utilized solidinitial reactants which had to be incorporated directly into the biomassgrowth reactors. Use of liquid feed through separate concentrate feedtanks 2 allows the growth process for the biomass in the growth reactors4 to proceed much more rapidly at the start and with much greateruniformity, since the liquid microorganism feeds are readily dispersedthroughout the growth tanks 4, rather than being concentrated at or neara solid feed container immersed in the liquid in the growth tank. Arapid and effective dispersion of the liquid throughout the growth tankallows for optimum biomass growth throughout the tank, rather thanhaving some areas, close to a solid feed container, havingoverstimulated growth and other areas, at some distance from the solidcontainer, being essentially starved for microorganisms.

The various microorganisms (which will be illustrated specificallybelow) may either be mixed in liquid form in the concentrate feedcontainers 2, or individual microorganisms or mixtures of microorganismsmay be contained in a plurality of feed concentrate containers(designated 2, 2' and 2"). Use of a plurality of concentrate containers2 may be advantageous where there are a wide variety of microorganismswhich are intended to be used and where different microorganisms are tobe injected into the system at different times, or in differentconcentrations. Similarly, it is useful where a much larger quantity ofone or a few types of microorganisms are to be used as compared toothers, since the ones that need to be replenished frequently can beisolated in their own container or containers 2 which can be readily andfrequently restocked or replaced, while the microorganisms, enzymes andnutrients which are used at a much slower rate can be kept in their ownoriginal concentrate containers.

The system is controlled by controller 6 which is preferably amicroprocessor of appropriate type. The controller 6 senses theconcentration and other operating conditions of the containers 2 andreactors 4, as indicated by the dashed lines, and at the preprogrammedtimes will stop or start pumps 8 to inject the initial concentratedliquid microorganism slurries or concentrated liquid nutrients from thetanks into the reactors 4, or will open valves 10 either to drain thereactors 4 completely of the accumulated biomass after the growth cycleis completed or to continuously drain the reactors 4 during a continuousflow cycle. Commercial tanks, sensors, controllers, and pumps and valvesare all readily available. Some are described in the patents citedpreviously and others are described widely in the literature andcommercial sources, such as catalogs. Those skilled in the art will bewell aware of the various types of equipment which are available andappropriate herein.

The system in FIG. 1 is shown as having two parallel sets of concentratetanks 2 and reactor 4. In some cases the process can be operated with asingle reactor 4 and appropriate associated concentrate tank or tanks 2.However, this has the disadvantage that when a cycle is completed, theentire system must be shut down so that new supplies of the concentratedmicroorganisms, enzymes and nutrients can be supplied either toconcentrate tank 2 or new tanks 2 inserted. More importantly however,the reactor 4 must be shut down for cleaning and sterilization andsanitizing. While a single system is shut down of course, there is nobiomass being provided to the end use application, whether that isagriculture, horticulture or other application. It is thereforepreferred to have at least two parallel systems, as illustrated in FIG.1, each operating at a different point in the cycle of vessel cleaning,sterilization and sanitation; water addition; injection of the liquidfeed suspension; growth of the biomass; and draining of the vessel anddispensing of the biomass, so that when one of the units is either shutdown for maintenance and recharging, awaiting the slow growth of certaintypes of microorganisms, or in the event of some sort of malfunction,the other system can be operating to be producing the biomass anddispersing it to the end use application. In this regard it iscontemplated that larger commercial systems utilizing the presentinvention may contain three or more parallel reactor/liquid feedconcentrate units so that one or more may be operating at any giventime, even while others are shut down for maintenance or are in aportion of the biomass growth cycle where it is not appropriate todisperse any of the biomass slurry. Those skilled in the art will beable to determine the optimum number of units for any given end use,depending on factors such as the area of soil or volume of water to betreated, the type and concentration of vegetation involved, and the costof equipment.

Alternatively to operating two, three or more reactor/liquid feedconcentrate units in parallel, a single unit may be run in a continuousflow cycle. The process of inoculating the reactor 4 from the liquidfeed tanks 2 is as described above; however, once the biomass in reactor4 has reached a sustainable density, it is drained through valve 10 at aconstant rate which is consonant with maintenance of the biomass throughcontinuous feeding from tanks 2. Thus, the soil or water being treated(or manifold(s), etc. being filled) may be continuously provided with aflow of biomass while the biomass within the reactor 4 is provided withsufficient nourishment to continue growing, thereby replenishing what isused. One advantage to this continuous process of feeding and dispersingthe biomass is that the reactor 4 need not be cleaned and sterilizedafter each growth cycle. Those of skill in the art will be able todetermine the rates of removal of the biomass and addition of nutrientsto the reactor to maintain the continuous fermentation of the biomass.

The tanks 2 and reactors 4 may be of any convenient size. It has beenfound particularly effective to have them sized such that an entiresystem containing a controller 6, one or more concentrate tanks 2 andthe reactor 4 can be contained on a single pallet which can be moved bya forklift vehicle or contained on a trailer which is integral to or canbe towed by a truck or similar vehicle from location to location. Such atrailer may be open or closed. A closed trailer of course, allows asystem to operate while being sheltered from weather, dust and dirt. Theconnection A to the various end use applications would be mounted on theoutside of the cover of the closed trailer so that connection by hosecoupling or other conventional means could be easily obtained.Similarly, on skid or pallet mounted units, the coupling A will also bemounted on the pallet or skid, again for ease in coupling to other enduse application systems. Of course, in many cases the units of thepresent invention will be permanently mounted at a central location,such as for a golf course or a park or athletic field, and a largeplurality of individual systems can be placed together or a fewer numberof systems with larger reactors and related equipment can be used.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative configuration of a biomass reactor4'. This reactor includes a plurality of chambers illustrated as 2A, 2B,2C and 2D, each of which can be used for isolated growth of individualmicroorganism biomasses or for storage of concentrated nutrientsuspensions. At an intermediate stage or upon completion of growth oneor more of these biomasses or nutrient solutions can then be dispensedinto the mass of water slurry in common chamber 17, in which furthermixing or growth can take place, prior to draining of the reactor 4'into the system through pipe 3.

Yet another embodiment of the reactor 4 is shown in FIG. 11, for usewhen the biomass is or includes a microorganism with indeterminategrowth, such as a fungus. The resulting biomass 13 in chamber 17 istangled and not easily flowable. Therefore the reactor 4 is modified byaddition of a maceration section 9 in which there is a macerator 7(essentially a chopping blade mechanism), driven by motor 11, which isused to chop the biomass into finely divided pieces 15 which can besuspended in the water and flow easily through the outlet pipe 3 and onthrough the system. The ability to use fungi, and particularly fungalspores, in the system enables delivery of viable, active and infectivemicroorganisms to the target site.

Typical and important end means of dispersing the biomass grown in thereactors 4 are illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. In each case, theinterconnection with the connector A is illustrated. In FIG. 2 thebiomass is discharged through valve 10 from reactor vessel 4 and ispassed to a manifold 12 from which it can be routed to a number ofdifferent individual piping systems 14, which in FIG. 2 are illustratedas spray irrigation lines with a plurality of spray heads 16 mounted atappropriate locations. It will be evident of course, that the line 14can be any of a wide variety of types of irrigation devices, such asdrip irrigation, spray irrigation, center pivot irrigation, or anymixture of types of systems. The manifold 12 can be either a simplemanifold in which all of the lines 14 are supplied with liquidsimultaneously, but more preferably will be either a manually orautomatically controlled manifold in which the biomass slurry liquid isrouted individually and separately to the different lines 14, dependingon the particular irrigation needs of the soils and vegetation served byeach of the lines 14. The sequencing can be automatic according to apredetermined program, can be manually operated or can be controlled inresponse to field conditions determined by sensors placed approximate tothe various lines 14, so that the system responds as needed to thedifferent soil and vegetation areas served by each of the lines on an asneeded basis. For instance, if the system of FIG. 2 were in use in alarge park with varied terrain, those areas of grass which are open andsubject to direct sunlight, or that vegetation which is growing in welldrained soils, would most commonly receive the slurry liquid morefrequently than other areas of the park which are shaded or where thevegetation is growing in highly water retentive soils.

If desired, the system of FIG. 2 could be operated without a manifold 12at all, so that the basic system of FIG. 1 feeds directly into a line14. This type of operation is likely to be used only in very limitedcircumstances, since it does not permit a variation for differentapplication needs, such as different soil conditions in the area beingirrigated.

FIG. 3 illustrates another type of distribution system which isparticularly useful for large open areas such as athletic fields, largeparks or row or tree crops. In this case, the biomass slurry from tank 4is passed to an accumulation or holding supply tank 18 from which it canbe dispersed as needed through valve 20 to nozzle 22 from which it isflowed into tank 24 mounted on truck 26. Truck 26 is equipped with aspray system 28 from which the biomass liquid in tank 24 can be pumpedand applied to the ground or to neighboring vegetation, including trees.Truck 26 can be driven to remote locations and there used to apply thebiomass slurry to such things as row crops, orchard fruit trees or soil,or large open park or golf course areas for which pipeline irrigationsystems such as that shown in FIG. 2 are not practical. The system ofFIG. 3 is particularly useful where there are a large number ofscattered plots to be treated with the biomass liquid and where a singletank truck 26 could move readily from plot to plot and carry enoughbiomass slurry liquid to irrigate and treat all of the plots on itsroute.

Yet another system is shown in FIG. 4, which consists of a holding tankor supply tank 30 from which the liquid can be passed to a manifold 32and from there into conduits 34, each of which leads to a satellitesupply tank 36, each of which in turn provides slurry liquid throughvarious types of irrigation treatment systems 38. Passage of the slurryfrom manifold 32 to individual conduits 34 is controlled by valves 40which in turn are controlled by a controller 42. Controller 42, and alsocontroller 44, which controls valve 20 in the system of FIG. 3, can be aseparate unit or can be part of the control system 6 of FIG. 1.Similarly, if it is desired to pump the liquid slurry directly fromtanks 4 into the systems of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, tanks 18 and 30 (FIGS. 3and 4, respectively) can be eliminated from the system. The presence oftanks 18 and 30 is preferred however, in that they allow foraccumulation of the liquid slurry so that it can be dispersed as neededand so that the reactors 4 can be used for other purposes withoutdisrupting the operations of the systems of FIGS. 3 and 4 for localoperation.

Alternatively, in FIG. 4, if the distances involved between the centralsystem and the satellites 46 are excessive one or more of the conduits34 of the system can be eliminated. In this case, the slurry can beloaded into a tank truck 48 and the truck driven to the satellitelocation where the slurry is transferred from the truck's tank to thetank 36.

Yet other means of dispersion are illustrated in FIG. 12. Part A of FIG.12 shows dispersion from an aircraft 120. Tanks within the aircraft'sbody 122 are connected by pipes to spray heads 124 on the outside of theaircraft, from which the slurry is dispensed as spray 128 onto thedesired turf, crops or other plants 126. Use of aircraft is of courseparticularly suited for application of the present compositions to largeor remote areas. Similarly, in Part B of FIG. 12, a small hand- orpower-propelled device 130 similar in size to a lawn mower has a tank132 mounted on it, with dispensers or spray heads 138 mounted underneathand connected to the tank 132 by suitable valved conduits. Handle 134,which may also contain the valve controls, is used to push or guide thedevice 130. This type of device is particularly suited to application ofthe compositions to small or delicate areas, illustrated here as a golfgreen 136.

Various end uses of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 5-9. FIGS.5-7 illustrate use for soil treating, vegetation growth and turfenhancement, while FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate various forms of watertreatment. In FIG. 5, the irrigation system 50 is shown as connected toone or another of the systems in FIGS. 2 or 4, as illustrated at B. Theliquid slurry is pumped through one or more conduits 52 to which aremounted various irrigation devices such as spray head 54 and from whichthe slurry is sprayed out over the various areas of turf or vegetationto be treated. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 5, the area is agolf course and the turf areas being irrigated by the sprays fromnozzles 54 are fairways 56 and greens 58. Of course as desired, anddepending on the type of terrain and local climate, the variousirrigation systems 52 can also be used to irrigate areas of rough 60 orother areas 62 of the course. It will be understood that there will be aplurality of conduits 52 and that they will be controlled by variousmanifolds and, if needed, pumps (not shown), all in the conventionalmanner for irrigation of golf courses, parks and similar areas. Similarresults will be obtained by treatment of other vegetation areas such asparks, athletic fields, road and railroad rights-of-way borders,greenbelts, lawns and the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the present system for horticulture asillustrated by greenhouse 64, shown partially cut away. Within thegreenhouse are a variety of plant growing boxes or troughs 66, each ofwhich is filled with soil and is used to grow the individual plants 68.This system of this invention can be enclosed in the housing 70 so thatthe greenhouse is operated directly with a single individual system.Alternatively, an individual system can be mounted in the housing 70 andused to supply not only greenhouse 64, but also neighboring greenhouses(not shown), since it is common in many commercial horticultureoperations to have a number of greenhouses closely situated together,either for growing large numbers of the same types of plants or forgrowing a variety of different plants in the different greenhouses. Alsoalternatively, the housing 70 can encompass one of the satellite units36 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Regardless of whether it is a primary or a satellite system which is inthe housing 70, the biomass slurry is piped into the greenhouse anddistributed to the plants in one or more of different conventionalroutes, including direct feed to the plant trough 66 as illustrated at72, which may be a simple liquid feed system or a drip irrigationsystem, or overhead spray of the plants as illustrated at 74. Otherroutes for applying the slurries to the plants, such as handheld hosesand nozzles connected to the slurry system, may also be used. Thosefamiliar with greenhouse horticulture will be aware of the numerousmethods of applying the slurry to the plants or the bedding soil in thetroughs 66, and all of these are equally suitable for use in the presentinvention.

Yet another end use application is illustrated in FIG. 7, large areaproduction agriculture. Again the particular irrigation systems 76 areshown as being connected to the system at B, and the variety ofdifferent irrigation units which can be used are illustrated by a spraynozzle 78 and drip irrigation nozzles 80. FIG. 7 illustrates row cropssuch as corn, or beans, but it will also be readily understood that thepresent invention is also applicable to field crops such as wheat andorchard or tree crops such as fruit trees and various types of nuts.This system is also applicable to both linear irrigation systems andalso center pivot and cross field movable irrigation systems.

Numerous desirable properties of soil can be enhanced by treating withthe present process and the microorganisms from the original liquidfeed, which are multiplied and dispersed over soil and vegetation areas.Nitrogen fixation in the soil is improved and increased, thus leading toenhanced crop or other vegetation growth. Nutrient availability in thesoil for vegetation growth is improved, as is the ability of plant rootsto access such nutrients. Dispersion of growth factors, regulators andmetabolites into the soil may be accomplished, which in turn willenhance growth of vegetation which utilize such materials. Conversely,undesirable properties of the soil, which inhibit vegetation growth, canbe reduced or eliminated. Treatment of the soil withmicroorganism-specific antibiotics can eliminate harmful pathogens whichare initially present in the soil without adverse effect on desirablemicroorganisms supplied to the soil through the present process.Similarly, various harmful organic or inorganic compounds, such assalts, hydrocarbons and pesticide residues, may be eliminated or theireffects reduced by action of specific microorganisms supplied herein.Thus, soil which has previously been capable of only low yield of crops,poor support of vegetation, or even devoid of sustainable vegetation canbe remediated by treatment by the present process, to the point wherelush, healthy vegetation and abundant crops can be grown, and thensubsequently maintained by continued application of the present process.It will of course be understood that the quantities and types ofmicroorganisms, nutrients, enzymes, metabolites and other materialssupplied by the present process will vary depending on the types of soiland vegetation involved, whether the process is being used forremediation or maintenance of soil and vegetation, the local topography,whether edible crops are being grown, and the like. Those skilled in theart will have no difficulty determining the optimum types ofmicroorganisms and other materials to provide through the initial liquidfeed, the amount of biomass to produce, and the application of thebiomass to the designated soil or vegetation.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate various types of water treatment which can beaccomplished by the present invention. In FIG. 8 the system of thepresent invention is used to purify contaminated well water. A well 82formed in the ground 84 and framed by a porous lining 86 is shown filledwith water 88. The biomass slurry of the present invention is containedin tank 90 from which it is pumped to a sparger or other dispersingdevice 92 submerged in the well, preferably near the bottom. As thebiomass disperses into the water and remains there for an appropriateperiod of time, the biomass and the microorganisms and enzymes graduallyeliminate the various contaminants in the water, so that after a periodof time (usually a matter of days or weeks) the well water issubstantially decontaminated and can be used by being pumped out by pump94 drawing water through inlet 96. If the contamination is entering thewell as ground water in the soil 84 through the porous lining 86, therate of withdrawal of the water, once the well water 88 is initiallypurified, should be maintained at a rate at or below the rate at whichthe biomass slurry being pumped in from tank 90 can decontaminate theincoming water.

In FIG. 9, a waste water effluent pond 98 is formed with an imperviousliner 100 sunk into soil 102. The biomass slurry is contained in tank104 from which it is pumped to spargers or similar dispersing devices106 which are submerged in the effluent body 108. The biomass is pumpedinto the water and replenished as needed over a period of time necessaryto reduce the contamination and the effluent to the desired level. Thebiomass will effect a reduction of the solid content of the effluent,especially the organic solids, and will also serve to detoxify toxiccontaminants in the effluent. It is contemplated that a single treatingpond 98 may not be sufficient in many cases and the treated effluentswill have to be transferred sequentially to additional ponds for furthertreating in order to obtain the overall degree of contaminants, solidand toxin reduction and elimination that is desired. Also, the treatmentby the biomass of the present invention preferably will be conducted inconjunction with conventional effluent treating processes such asaeration 110 and filtration.

As with soil and vegetation enhancement or remediation, water treatmentby the process herein produces substantial improvements in waterquality. Injection of the biomass materials herein into a body of water,such as well water or water retained in a container such as a tank, canimprove the water quality by elimination or reduction of organicmaterials and salts and by detoxification of toxins. The same will betrue, on a greater scale, for treatment of heavily contaminated watersupplies, such as wastewater effluents or contaminated ground wateraquifers. The ground waters also benefit indirectly from the treatmentof soils described above, since the presence of an active microbialregion in the upper layers of soil will denitrify nitrates andimmobilize ammoniacal nitrogen, thus preventing conversion to nitratesat a rate greater than such nitrates can be utilized by the localgrowing vegetation. Direct treatment of ground water is illustrated inFIG. 13, in which an "active" layer 25 of soil is created in which themicroorganisms, enzymes and nutrients of this invention are contained.Layer 25 is at the top of the soil profile, is commonly a few feet deepand usually includes ground surface 27. A pipe with a spray head 29 andsuitable pumping means (not shown) reaches down to aquifer 31 and drawscontaminated ground water from the aquifer 31 into the pipe throughinlet 33. The water is sprayed out 37 onto the ground surface 27, fromwhich it soaks back into the ground. It passes through active layer 25where it is at least partially decontaminated. The decontaminated watercontinues to flow through deeper strata or soil layers 35 until itreturns to the aquifer 31. Continued pumping, spraying and passage ofthe water through the active layer will eventually produce a substantialreduction in the contaminant level in the aquifer water.

Other applications of this process of water and/or soil treatment arealso contemplated, though not specifically identified. For example, itis understood that septic tanks are particularly susceptible todecontamination by this process. The contaminated water of the septictank may be removed, treated by the disclosed process and returned tothe tank or the biomass may be delivered directly to the septic tank orsome similar treatment may be implemented. Similarly, the soil to betreated by the disclosed process may be located essentially anywhere andused to grow virtually anything. For instance, it will be recognizedthat this process may be used to enhance soil which is used to grazeanimals or to enhance residential yards or gardens, as well ascommercially used soils.

The microorganisms preferably useful in this invention grow by means ofa consistent supply of nutrients and availability of adequate oxygen. Itis not preferred to use microorganisms which rely on photosynthesis andare therefore dependent upon the presence of light for growth. However,if it is desired to use such microorganisms, the vessel 4 canincorporate its own lighting system to provide light for the biomassgrowth either by having vessel 4 be made of a clear or translucentmaterial which allows ambient light into the biomass within or by havingartificial light positioned such that the artificial light is focusedinto the biomass.

The growth of the microorganisms may also be aided by mechanical mixingof the aqueous biomass in the vessel, as by use of a mechanical mixer orby recycle of the aqueous biomass through an external recycle conduit(not shown). Both recycle and mixer usage are common in biomass vesselsand those skilled in the art will be well aware of the techniques andequipment available and how such should be used. The degree ofturbulence induced by either the mixer or the recycle must be keptwithin relatively low limits, to avoid shear degradation of themicroorganism biomass, particularly as the microorganism biomass becomesconcentrated toward the end of each growth cycle.

Typical of the various materials which can comprise the biomass aredifferent microorganisms, either singly or in various mixtures in theaqueous suspensions, together with appropriate nutrients and enzymes.Many such microorganisms, nutrients and enzymes are commercially sold asproprietary products. Those skilled in the art are able to determine thematerials appropriate for their needs by selecting those which providethe desired seed treating functions, such a growth enhancement,disease-resistance and/or pest-resistance. For example, Azospirillumbrasilense is useful for non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation on grasses andfor seedling establishment enhancement. Rhizobium ssp. are useful forsymbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. The Bacillus specieslicheniformis, subtills and polymyxa, on the other hand, are useful forgeneral soil improvement such as aggregate formation and stabilization.Additionally, most species of the Bacillus genus are useful ashyper-cellulase producing organisms for thatch and/or rubbledegradation. Gliocladium spp. provide control from diseases, such asroot rot and the fungal disease, phytophthora, and Trichoderma spp. areuseful both as a broad spectrum disease control microorganism and as ahypercellulase producing organism.

Examples of other useful microorganisms include thermophiles such asArchaebacteria, described in Brock et al., Biology of Microorganisms(5th edn., 1988) §18.6; microorganisms which utilize hydrocarbons asnutrients, such as Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium (Brock et al., §16.23);nitrogen fixating bacteria such as Azotobacter spp., Cyanobacteria andBacillus polymyxa (Brock et al., §16.24); and halophiles such asHalobacterium (Brock et al., §19.33). Additional typical microorganismsare oxygen-generating bacteria exemplified by a microorganism productcommercially available under the trade name "AG-14" from Natural OxygenProducts of El Paso, Tex., and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,121.Similar microorganisms include Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Euglina spp.and the three Bacillus species previously discussed. See, e.g., Brock etal., §§19.15, 19.20, and 19.26 and Moore et al., Biological Science(1963), pp. 248-249.

Numerous microbial nutrients and enzymes are also known, such as thoseexemplified by a product commercially available under the trade name"BNB-931" from Westbridge Company of Carlsbad, Calif., and a chelatedproduct commercially available under the trade name "Sun-Up". Thechelating agent in "Sun-Up" is citric acid. Microorganisms whichfunction as insecticides, fungicides, metabolites and/or herbicides mayalso be part of the biomass. A particularly preferred product useful inthis regard is a fungicidal/nematocidal product in which the activeingredient is Burkholderia cepacia, type Wisconsin, in a concentrationof 10⁵ cells/gram. This product is commercially available under thetrade name "Deny" from CCT Corporation of California. Another usefulproduct is "Azo-Kote" from Encore Technologies, Inc. of Minnesota, whichhas Azospirillium brasilense as its active ingredient and is useful fornon-symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

The above are only examples of the various materials that may comprisethe biomass and are in no way intended to limit the scope of theinvention. It is intended to include, as part of the concept of thisinvention, both currently known and commercially availablemicroorganisms, enzymes and nutrients and those of similar functionwhich become available and approved for seed treating applications inthe future.

It will be evident that there are numerous embodiments of this inventionwhich, while not expressly described above, are clearly within the scopeand spirit of the invention. The above description is therefore intendedto be exemplary only, and the scope of the invention is to be limitedsolely by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method for remediation or enhancement of soil or waterwhich comprises:forming a concentrated aqueous suspension ofmicroorganisms and nutrients therefor in a single first vessel;injecting said aqueous suspension as a batch into a substantially largervolume of water in a second vessel; retaining said larger volume ofwater with said suspension dispersed therein in said second vessel at atemperature and for a time sufficient for said microorganisms to feed onat least a portion of said nutrients, reproduce and multiply into aconcentrated biomass containing a remainder of said nutrients and anincreased number of said microorganisms in said water; thereafterdispensing said biomass from said second vessel and dispersing saidbiomass to soil or water; and maintaining said microorganisms alive andactive with said remainder of said nutrients for a period of timesufficient to enhance predetermined desirable properties of said soil orwater or reduce predetermined undesirable properties of said soil orwater.
 2. A method as in claim 1 where said aqueous suspension furthercomprises enzymes, vegetation growth factors, vegetation growthregulators, antibiotics or metabolites.
 3. A method as in claim 1comprising a plurality of said concentrated aqueous suspensions, eachdisposed in a different first vessel.
 4. A method as in claim 3 whereina first individual suspension in said plurality comprises componentsdifferent from components in a second individual suspension in saidplurality.
 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said first and secondsuspensions in respective first vessels are injected into said largevolume of water in said second vessel at different times during abiomass growth cycle.
 6. A method as in claim 1 comprising a pluralityof sets of said first and second vessels, each of which sets contains abiomass in a stage of growth different from biomasses in other vesselsor which is empty of biomass and water and is undergoing preparation forwater addition, subsequent aqueous suspension injection into said water,and resulting biomass growth.
 7. A method as in claim 6 wherein asequence of steps of vessel preparation, addition of water, biomassgrowth and biomass dispensing exists for each set of vessels in saidplurality.
 8. A method as in claim 7 wherein at least one set of vesselsin said plurality of sets is at any time at a different point in itssaid sequence than at least another set of vessels in said plurality isin its said sequence.
 9. A method as in claim 1 wherein saidmicroorganisms include species having indeterminate growth.
 10. A methodas in claim 9 further comprising macerating a biomass comprised of saidspecies to comminute said biomass into portions adapted to flow in aliquid slurry.
 11. A method as in claim 1 wherein said biomass isdispersed onto soil.
 12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said soilsupports turf, field crops, ornamental plants, row crops or tree crops.13. A method as in claim 11 wherein said biomass is dispersed onto saidsoil in the form of an aqueous slurry of said biomass.
 14. A method asin claim 13 wherein dispersion of said biomass onto said soil comprisestransferring said biomass from said second vessel into a third vessel,and thereafter dispersing said biomass onto said soil from said thirdvessel.
 15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said third vessel is part ofa mobile vehicle and said mobile vehicle transports said biomass fromsaid second vessel to said soil.
 16. A method as in claim 15 whereinsaid vehicle comprises an aircraft, truck, trailer or hand-propelled orguided mobile device and said dispersing comprises dispersing saidbiomass onto said soil from said vehicle.
 17. A method as in claim 13wherein dispersion of said biomass onto said soil comprises transposingsaid aqueous slurry of said biomass though a liquid conduit from saidsecond vessel to a spray nozzle thereafter dispersing said biomass ontosaid soil from said spray nozzle.
 18. Apparatus for remediation orenhancement of soil or water which comprises:a single first vessel for aconcentrated aqueous suspension of microorganisms and nutrientstherefor; a second vessel larger than said first vessel, and a liquidconduit therebetween; an injector for moving said aqueous suspension asa batch through said conduit and injecting said aqueous suspension intoa volume of water greater than the volume of said aqueous suspension,and within said second vessel; operating means for producing andmaintaining conditions over a period of time within said second vesselconducive to reproduction and growth of said microorganisms in thepresence of said nutrients, such that said microorganisms during saidperiod of time multiply into an aqueous biomass comprising saidmicroorganisms dispersed in the vessel water; and dispensing means forremoving aqueous biomass from said second vessel; such that said aqueousbiomass can subsequently be dispersed into soil or water and saidmicroorganisms therein maintained alive and active for a period of timesufficient to enhance predetermined desirable properties of said soil orwater or reduce predetermined undesirable properties of said soil orwater.
 19. Apparatus as in claim 18 comprising a plurality of said firstvessels, each with an individual injector and conduit to said secondvessel, and each first vessel being capable of containing a concentratedaqueous suspension of microorganisms and nutrients therefor differentfrom the concentrated aqueous suspension of microorganisms and nutrientstherefor contained in at least one of the others of said first vesselsin said plurality.
 20. Apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising acontroller to regulate rate and timing of injection of each said aqueoussuspension from each respective said first vessel into said secondvessel.
 21. Apparatus as in claim 18 a plurality of sets of said firstand second vessels, each adapted to permit growth of a microorganismbiomass in isolation from microorganism biomasses in the other sets ofvessels of said plurality.
 22. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said setof vessels in said plurality of sets is housed within a single housing.23. Apparatus as in claim 18 further comprising liquid conveyance meansto transport said dispensed aqueous biomass from said second vessel tosaid soil or water.
 24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said conveyancemeans comprises a liquid conduit and spray nozzle to spray said aqueousbiomass onto said soil or water.
 25. Apparatus as in claim 23 whereinsaid conveyance means comprises a vehicle having a tank into which saidaqueous biomass in loaded for transport to said soil or water. 26.Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein said aqueous biomass is disperseddirectly from said tank to said soil or water.
 27. Apparatus as in claim25 wherein said vehicle comprises an aircraft, truck, trailer orhand-propelled or guided mobile device.
 28. Apparatus for remediation orenhancement of soil or water which comprises:a container for aconcentrated aqueous suspension of microorganisms and/or nutrientstherefor; a vessel larger than said container, and a liquid conduittherebetween; an injector for moving said aqueous suspension throughsaid conduit and injecting said aqueous suspension into a volume ofwater greater than the volume of said aqueous suspension, and withinsaid vessel; operating means for producing and maintaining conditionsover a period of time within said vessel conducive to reproduction andgrowth of said microorganisms, such that said microorganisms multiplyinto an aqueous biomass comprising said microorganisms in excessnutrients and dispersed in the vessel water; and dispensing means forremoving the aqueous biomass from said vessel, such that said aqueousbiomass can subsequently be dispersed into soil or water and saidmicroorganisms therein maintained alive and active for a period of timesufficient to enhance predetermined desirable properties of said soil orwater or reduce predetermined undesirable properties of said soil orwater.
 29. Apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said dispensing meanscontinuously dispenses said aqueous biomass and said operating meanscontinuously provides nutrients to said vessel, such that the density ofsaid aqueous biomass remains about constant.